Liverpool fans slam Howard Webb for ‘failing to apologise’ for Luis Diaz’s wrongly disallowed goal against Tottenham… branding the ref chief’s appearance on Match Officials Mic’d Up as a ‘waste of time’
- Howard Webb has spoken about Luis Diaz’s disallowed goal against Tottenham
- Liverpool fans believe the PGMOL chief should have been pressed further
- Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’
Liverpool fans have criticised PGMOL chief Howard Webb for failing to apologise for Luis Diaz’s wrongly disallowed goal in the Reds 2-1 defeat by Tottenham last month.
The incident occurred in the first half of the clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Mohamed Salah playing Diaz through on goal and the Colombian winger finishing past Guglielmo Vicario.
The offside flag belatedly went up, leading to an obligatory VAR check.
Replays confirmed Diaz was actually onside and the goal should have stood, but VAR official Darren England wrongly thought the goal had originally been given, and uttered the words ‘check complete’.
The on-field team believed this to mean that the offside call was correct, and the game restarted with a free-kick to Tottenham.
Howard Webb discussed Luis Diaz’s wrongly disallowed goal against Tottenham last month
Replays showed the goal should have stood, but the VAR official misunderstood the original decision and called ‘check complete’, meaning the goal was wrongly ruled out
PGMOL chief Webb insisted VAR officials were right not to intervene to restart the match
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Webb joined Michael Owen to discuss the controversial incident on Match Officials: Mic’d Up on Tuesday night, with the PGMOL chief insisting the VAR officials were right not to stop the match after recognising the howler.
‘I understand why people would ask that question. Actually, the VAR and the AVAR asked themselves that question too when the penny dropped as to what had happened, I think 20 seconds had passed,’ Webb said.
‘At that point they considered whether they could intervene to stop the game but they recognised that the laws of the game, set by FIFA and the IFAB, doesn’t allow that.’
Liverpool fans were angered by Webb’s comment on social media, with some insisting the club are owed an apology from the PGMOL boss.
‘It’s actually mental that Howard Webb is still justifying that Diaz mistake, one fan wrote. ‘Still hasn’t apologised and now he’s just doing his propaganda TV show about it.’
Another accused Webb of ‘lying’ after he had explained referee John Brooks was unaware of the mistake by the VAR officials until after full-time in the match.
‘Howard Webb ducking against all the uncomfortable questions. Says the ref never heard that Diaz was onside. Liar,’ a fan claimed.
Liverpool supporters criticised Michael Owen for failing to press Webb on the controversy
Liverpool fans claimed Howard Webb failed to apologise for Luis Diaz’s disallowed goal
Liverpol had received an apology in the aftermath of the decision in a statement by the refereeing body acknowledging the error.
Webb also revealed changes have been made following the incident to enhance communication among the VAR and on-field officials to avoid similar mistakes.
Criticism of the second episode of Match Officials: Mic’d Up was also aimed at host Michael Owen.
Several fans claimed Owen had failed to push Webb for answers during the 30-minute show, with some labelling their discussion as a ‘waste of time.’
‘That episode of mic’d up with Howard Webb and Michael Owen, was a waste of my time,’ wrote one suppoter.
‘Giving the @FA_PGMOL airtime to get their story out and run with a narrative they want us to have. Michael not pushing Howard Webb was a joke. Get someone who will question them to do these shows.’
‘Howard Webb you are a joke! Just as if nothing happened other than a “mistake”,’ claimed another.
‘No passion, no apology and Michael Owen just giving him an easy ride on the whole thing! What about the consequences? End of story lets move on!! Joke – resign!!!’
Webb was also questioned over Mateo Kovacic avoiding a red card for Man City during their 1-0 defeat against Arsenal on Sunday.
Kovacic was shown a yellow card for a tackle on Martin Odegaard, before avoiding a second booking for a foul on Declan Rice just six minutes later.
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